In Chains

One of the ways we bond with others is through shared experiences. "Do you remember the time that we ....?" "Wasn't that funny when we ....?" "I can't believe that actually happened to us!"

On my last trip to England, we didn't spend near enough time in Combe Martin, birthplace of Richard Norman. One of the things that made an impression on me, however, was looking up the hill to the parish church. It occurred to me then that seeing the church was an experience I shared with our ancestors.

St Peter Ad Vincula in Combe Martin in 1999

The parish church in Combe Martin was typical of many we saw in the North Devon area. Most are ancient buildings and portions of "our" church date to around the 12th century.  The building is dedicated to St Peter Ad Vincula (St Peter in chains, alluding to the miraculous escape of Peter from prison described in Acts 12). The dedications are apparently not meant to be original, as the church in the Tower of London has the same name.

Several Normans buried here

As is typical, the area around the church was full of headstones. Fortunately, the grounds of St Peter are well-kept: I recall visiting one church (possibly in Ilfracombe) where a machete would have been required to find anything.

In some ways, it is hard for us as Americans to grasp the role of the church in the lives of our ancestors. The ecclesiastical parish was the "government" of the people, levying taxes in the form of tithes, providing relief to the poor, building and maintaining roads and having its own courts.  Until 1837, the births of children were rarely recorded - rather, the baptism or christening of the child would be noted; likewise the date of burial in the churchyard is remembered rather than the date of death. The church basically controlled lawful marriages. It would have been a center of social activity. While other religious beliefs were tolerated more or less (depending on the period of time), most of our ancestors would have attended the parish church every Sunday.

Perhaps as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we have a better feel than other US citizens for a church that is not Sunday only. The difference, however, is that we choose the role of the church in our lives, whereas our ancestors were shackled to the church and its leaders as a way of life. I'm not sure that's an experience we can completely share.